The Pickens sentinel. [volume] (Pickens, S.C.) 1871-1903, 1887-03-03

81 say, my dear fellow, you won't
mind camping down on tho parlor sofa
for one night, will you?" said Gervas,
Jr., drawing his prospective brothcr-in-
law aside as bed time approached. "You
see, Judge Bolton has rickety nerves.
must have room to himself, with no
clock in it, three pillows of assorted sizes
under his head, and brandy and water
within easy roach in case Of nightmare.
Mother looked blank as slate When she
heard he was here, but I told her we
would abdicat| in his favor, that we
could sleep like roach in the bottom of
a pond, or wherever she might put u.s.. -
Mldnl8ht and the dying fire saw the
palr stretched out on luxurious supcr-
structure o. pillows and blankets, up-
bonc by bread haircloth sofas, one on
each side OF thc hearth. They had been
last friends since their freshman year at
ilampden Sidney. Veteran campaigncrs
at rs III the straits and makcshifts Of
crowded country houses, they accepted
the situation hilariously, smoked lin
%rrin8 cigar apiece after the candles
were cXtinguishcd, the red tips winking
across the room at one another until
steep and silence settled upon the rest of
the house. Gcrvas first gave token of
drowsincss, his talk Of fine girls and
DloodCd horses running down drolly, the
pend"lum tongue dropping words like
lazy second ticks.
'Not moro glorious pair of eyes
this -side-tho Blue Ridge" he drawIcd.
"tlnncY's going train cr-f the course
next fall. Chcs'nt-bay-one white
FOOT"
lhe auditor laughed silently, trcasur-
ing up the enComium for elaboration and
repetition at the breakfast table RAISING
hlmscIt on his elbow to see if his com
fadc cigar were out, and that he had
not set 1lrc to the sheets, he aimed the
stump OF his own toward the faint SHIN
NOR III the chimney, drew the blankets
up 10 his chin, and, with n deep breath
OF satisfaction. settled into his downy
nest.
The rain was falling with rhythmic
rcGulanty on the porch roof, heavy
pour that beat down the wind. Suddenly
i morse undcr the window awoke him.
lie rrcoucctcd instantly where he WAS
and why.
"Gcrvas!" he whispered.
''Aco! l. heard it! Hist" came back
III the same key.
Inc rustic OF the bed coverings as
they sat upright was audible in the dark
room. Some one was walking on the
porch with steps that Jagged aid quick
rncd oddly. Sometimes they stopped
entirely while one might count ten or
twenty. The Rhythmic pattcr Of the
i;@lIlhG floods acccntuattd by contrast
tlc uncyrnn"ss OF the tramp, tramp.
from end to end Of the wet floor. Sud
Icnly the dragginG feet halted at the
'front.' door, locks ratified, hinges crcakcd:
thc footsteps came stumblingly to the
thrcSh"id Of the drawing room; hand
ntmhled with the knob.
Iho friends heard each the others
breath sharply held, as the door swung
back and somebody entered. There was
Il Drici pause; the tlTobbing hearts Of
the listeners, themselves unseen in the
"ehsc darkness as was the intruder, out
peat the ralnpour without to their
STRAINED senses, each gathering himself
up ior spnnG SO soon as the trcspnsscr
should strike light.
Instead OF this, he walked heavily but
Stcadil = as il ncrved by deliberate mr.
pose across the floor to the corner whnrc
stood the piano. Thcrc-thcv were os
sure OF it as if they had seen the action
he dropped upon his knees. i long,
broken sigh shuddcred through the
gloom, an urticulutcd sob burdcncd with
word they did not catch, but which
tPcy believed WAS n name, followed by q
hoIEd, slckening gurglc-a dull thud-a
hollow human grOan!
The young men bounded from their
couchcS and grOpcd in frcnzicd clumsi-
ness for matches. The blue light snapped
liZHIcd, grew red, then clear.
"Ihc candlc! gasped Gervas, shaking
as with palsy.
AS the wick caught, they turned for
the first time III the direction from which
the horror had lcapod upon them. The
cover OF the closed piano was smooth;
chars, foot stool and q lamp stand
were as they had left them on going to
bed. There was no PROSTATE figure or
other sign OF. the nocturnal visitation.
Avoiding one nnOthcr's eyes as in the
abaShmcnt Of guilt they explored the
room and hall with lights. The polished
HOOP OF the latter was dry and clean, the
outer door locked and barred.
'1ct ! could" have sworn that his
boots were soaked with wet" whispered
HcrV4s' lcarfully. "Ihcy had the sOddcn
sound Of muddy solcs. "
WIN the same queer, cowcd dread Of
they know not what upon them, they
stolo back on tiptoo to the drawing
room, made up the fire, and sitting by
IL smoked and talked until the dim dnV-
light OF wild, rainy morning slid in at
the windows.
In all these hours of agitated confer
Gncc they arrived at but one conclusion.
lhG awful secret should be kept until
such time as they could furnish q solu-
ton OF the mystery. To delicato women
and supcrstitious servants Round Hill
would be intolcrablo were thcy to sus-
poet who stalkcd, visible and Invisible,
through the house at his own evil will.
Shy had been Airs. Speed for a year
when her husband received letter from
her brother, addressed to his Office and
marked Confidential.
81 have found key that fits the
lock, wrote the brave yonng fellow;
''but the darkness on tho other side of
tho open door is thicker than that in
which we have prOOCI 80 lOno